[mikethechamois]

the building trade has cscs and cis , accountants and other proffesionals have to belong to various bodies in order to work

wc is a trade and the sooner everyone sees it that way the better

[Gordon Saunders]

i agree window cleaning is a trade.
 What other sector in cleaning industry needs a license .
Does our domestic cleaner need a license ?   mobile car valet? carpet cleaners?  ironing services? the list goes on and on.

Many so called trades and professions only have voluntary schemes . Lots of these schemes are self regulating (banking sector , insurance services ) so what good are they anyway ( look at the banks ).

 My best mate is a general builder has been since he left school 20 yrs ago and the only qualification he has is his driving license . 20 yrs experience teaches more about a trade than a piece of paper.

 I am not against raising the image of w/c as a trade or trying to tackle some of the issues raised .

 

[Davie T]

To DA Services.

Perhaps it would be prudent and relevant to other posts if you were to  list the individual  cost of say 6 annual w/c  lincences of randon Authorities.

To other readers it is worth noting that if a w/c works in say 3 areas he will be required to purchase 3 individual licenses

[DASERVICES]

Right I will use myself as an example as I hold 4, I know others that hold 7.

Based on 2007 fees

Fife £37
Clacks £55
Stirling £54
Perth £80

All price for year however if you buy a 3yr one it is cheaper spread over 3yrs

I do one contract in Fife and the cost of the license is factored in the price, same as Perth I factor the license in the price. Whatever tender the license charge is shown, this way the customer understands what the license is for and therefore is willing to pay for it.

This works for me. I'm a business so all overheads are factored in prices.

[paulscotney]

I am glad I am not Scottish, is all I can say.

 Maybe they should have licensed Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, that would have been far more sensible, or at least put frontier controls on them to make sure they stayed north of Hadrian's  Wall

[jaykie]

I cant understand why you need licenses in different areas, surely its just a police check to make sure custys have a legit and trustworthy person on there premises, so why cant you just have one license for the whole country.

[Paul Coleman]

I cant understand why you need licenses in different areas, surely its just a police check to make sure custys have a legit and trustworthy person on there premises, so why cant you just have one license for the whole country.

Exactly one of  the points I have been making on here for some time when this subject has arisen.  However, with that stuff about being unable to get a license if behind with council tax, as far as I'm concerned, it is totally academic now.  BTW.  I'm usually up to date with my council tax - occasionally coughing up a week or two late if cashflow is tight.
To me it's not just about using council tax as a lever.  It's the broader principle that licensing could and would be used as a means of control in other areas of life.  It smacks of  "Be a good boy and you won't lose your license to work".  Great way of controlling people from where I'm sitting.
History is littered with examples of legislation being used in a much wider scope that its original intentions.  Even in recent weeks it has happened with the government using anti terrorist legislation as a lever against Icelandic banks and/or government.  No-one really seemed to mind too much in this country as people's money was at stake but I for one find it deeply disturbing that this was done.


I will hold it there as by broadening this I could make myself appear to be a paranoid crackpot.  I'm not (but I would say that, wouldn't I?).   

[Davie T]

FAO RWC

That's my opinion too.

For DA Services to pay £226 per anum is, in my opinion far too expensive and extortion

Would DA not consider coming at the problem from a slighltly different angle and push for 1 license per worker for 1 area - Scotland.?

I am not against licensing but why does a W/C have to have 1 for each area?  It does not make sense.

Those who are employing will of course have to pay that sum for every worker.

[Paul Coleman]

FAO RWC

That's my opinion too.

For DA Services to pay £226 per anum is, in my opinion far too expensive and extortion

Would DA not consider coming at the problem from a slighltly different angle and push for 1 license per worker for 1 area - Scotland.?

I am not against licensing but why does a W/C have to have 1 for each area?  It does not make sense.

Those who are employing will of course have to pay that sum for every worker.

In addition to what you have written, I can see potential problems arising if someone has a chequered past.  He might be deemed "good enough" to work in one area (lets call it WorkingClassGrassRootsTown) but "not good enough" to work in the neighbouring town of (SnottyNosedUpperClassTwitsTown).
Could be some interesting permutations there.

[DASERVICES]

Davie,

We have tried that angle but it is a very complicated law as the right for Councils to have individual licenses covers all within the Civic Act from pubs to window cleaners.

To acquire this change it would have to go through many changes through the Scottish Parliament which they have rejected. So unfortunately it is a no, no.

As a result of this the SLWCN has to push Councils for ALL to be licensed as it is totally unfair on licensed window cleaners.

If this were to happen which it will in the future then I am sure every window cleaner in Scotland would be happy as they would see prices rise dramatically. There also needs to be set standards with the license for example attend a HSE course.

[JSMC]

in no way will it make prices go up because we have a licence. I personally cannot see it

[Chameleon]

It's another "Stealth tax" by the so called, money strapped Councils

It's also a way for the big boys to get rid of competition

In both cases it's motivated by GREED, pure and simple!

I ma just a small, small, small window cleaned, only domestic houses!

I am honest, I look honest, if customers/people like me they employ my services!
(I haven't got a police record (apart  from Regatta De Blanc )

The Councils need to make more revenue, so that those sitting in offices can justify there ridiculous wages
An article in our local paper this week states that 14 are paid over £50,000 the list then goes up to over £112,000 for the top numpty!

What really gets me is the likes of DA Services helping the money grabbing ...

As I have said on other forums is this...
We live in a free country, which states we are by law "Innocent until proved guilty"

I for one don't want to live in a country that uses the "BIG Brother" outlook!

I AM A FREE MAN, NOT A NUMBER 

[elite mike]

we have one driving  licence and can drive where we like

 i am with chameleon on this


quote
I AM A FREE MAN, NOT A NUMBER  Grin Grin Grin Grin

[DASERVICES]

What really gets me is the likes of DA Services helping the money grabbing ...

Nope just fighting for thousands of licensed window cleaners who feel it is totally unfair that they OBEY THE LAW and others get off scott free. We are paying for a service , the Council should give us a service.

The license was not brought in by the Council but by ACPOS the Chief Police Officers as many who ruin our trade were using window cleaning for their crimes. Councils were not involved in this but were brought in later as it sat under the Civic Act.

Lets get a bit of history here, for many years window cleaners in Scotland who were FED members were shouting loud for tios to be resolved. The FED did not get anywhere so hence it was felt better to fight this within so the SLWCN was formed. We have done more than any other Civic Association and the fact they have now started things moving proves it can be done if you have the know how.

If the license was in England I'm sure you guys would be shouting, who would be fighting your corner!!!!!

You will soon be over run by new and sometimes unscrupulous people who will be attacking your livelihood, who or what organisation is going to stand up to them in England!!! Who is fighting for window cleaners rights!!!

We have the same situation here in Scotland but we have a brilliant business tool if run correctly. The Councils will run it correctly and our trade needs an organisation to push them.

Can I say we the SLWCN cannot say break the law!!!

Hope this helps.

 

[DASERVICES]

Guys,

Locking this topic, I'm all far free speech and view everyones concerns.

From my point running the SLWCN we want to be open and not a closet association.

We provide our members with all information we receive and also the announce any details that may effect them to those who are not unlicensed which a lot I respect their concerns. But once they see action is being taken a lot who I have spoken to would pay for it in that form.

A lot of window cleaners I know are being undercut by unlegit window cleaners and some are close to going out of business. The license has to work for them and I'm sure a lot of you who have mortgages to pay would agree there needs to action taken against these people.

Hope you understand and also respect peoples views but we haveto work within the law.

Cheers

Doug